Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we will aim to give you something to follow.
Today, we like the prospects at Hawkesbury of a pair of lightly tried contenders who look poised to bank their first winning cheques. At Swan Hill, we’re in the camp of a filly who showed enough on debut to warrant support again.
Hawkesbury, Race 2, 12.45pm AEST, Happy 50th Bretto Plate, $35,000, 1400m
Deficit (Snitzel) was bred by Emirates Park and sold through the Aquis draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to co-trainer Gerald Ryan and David Raphael for $65,000. A half-brother to a pair of winners, he is out of the Medaglia D’Oro (USA) mare Taqaseem and she is a half-sister to the G1 Doomben Cup winner Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense {USA}).
Deficit as a yearling
Their dam is a half-sister to the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. winner Rewaaya (Singspiel {Ire}) and the family of the G1 Kenilworth Cape Derby winner Ertijaal (Hard Spun {USA}). Deficit has been in the money in both of his starts and is presented with an ideal opportunity to gain the first winning strike of his career.
Hawkesbury, Race 3, 1.20pm AEST, Nepean Boltmaster H., $35,000, 1300m
The Brad Widdup-trained Eminencia (I Am Invincible) was a trial winner leading into her first appearance at Kembla Grange where she got back in the running and made ground to finish fifth. That experience should stand her in good stead and she is expected to be much more of a competitive force in this lineup.
I Am Invincible, sire of Eminencia | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Bred and raced by George Altomonte’s Corumbene Stud, Eminencia is a half-sister to four winners and their dam Emissary (Dehere {USA}) won on three occasions. She is a daughter of the G1 The Metropolitan H. winner Heart Ruler (Marscay) and she is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Coronation Day (Bletchingly) and to the dam of Egg Tart (Sebring), twice successful at the top level.
Swan Hill, Race 1, 11.40am AEST, bet365 Top Tote Plate, $35,000, 975m
Maconni (Nicconi) was offered by breeder Kooringal Stud at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where he caught the eye of Salanitri racing, who paid $180,000 for the filly. She is out of the three-time winner Ingham Magic (Magic Albert) and the second dam is a sister to the G1 Doomben Cup winner Mr Bureaucrat (Bureaucracy {NZ}) and is half-sister to the G3 Gloaming S. winner and G1 Spring Champion S. runner-up All Black Gold (Canny Lad).
Macconi as a yearling
Prepared by Henry Dwyer, Maconni headed to Geelong to make her first raceday appearance and there was plenty to like about her performance to nail down third spot. She has drawn well, a major plus in a big field over this distance, and Michael Poy will again guide her fortunes and they appeal as a winning combination.
